International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Fatal Avalanche Accidents and Forecasted Danger Levels: Patterns in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and France

• • Title: Fatal Avalanche Accidents and Forecasted Danger Levels: Patterns in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and France

    Proceedings: Proceedings of the 2006 International Snow Science Workshop, Telluride, Colorado

    Authors:

    • Ethan Greene  [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A. ]
    • Thomas Wiesinger  [ Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Aval anche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Karl Birkeland  [ USDA-Forest Service National Avalanc he Center, Bozeman, Montana, U.S.A ]
    • Cécile Coléou  [ Météo-France, Saint Martin D’Heres, France ]
    • Alan Jones  [ Canadian Avalanche Center, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada ]
    • Grant Statham  [ Parks Canada, Banff, Alberta, Canada ]

    Date: 2006

    Abstract: Throughout the winter, avalanche forecasters issue bulletins to help the public and the managers of public facilities make avalanche safety decisions. These bulletins typically describe important snowpack features and current weather events before rating the avalanche danger on a scale of one through five. Although the character of avalanche conditions may vary between regions, the physical processes that form avalanches are universal. In addition, the methods used to forecast avalanche activity are similar throughout North America and Europe. We use the distribution of fatal avalanche accidents with respect to forecasted avalanche danger level to examine how effectively avalanche forecast groups communicate with the public and how consistent these groups are within countries and internationally. The results show that avalanche forecast groups are effectively communicating with the public when relatively benign or very dangerous conditions exist.Additional Authors: 3USDA-Forest Service National Avalanche Center, Bozeman, Montana, U.S.A. 4Météo-France, Saint Martin D’Heres, France 5Canadian Avalanche Center, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada 6Parks Canada, Banff, Alberta, Canada

    Object ID: issw-2006-640-649.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Unknown

    Keywords: avalanche accidents, avalanche danger, avalanche forecasting

    Page Number(s): 640-649

    Subjects: avalanche accidents fatalities avalanche safety

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